2021 Volkswagen Jetta: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2021 / volkswagen / jetta
known issues7 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-28)
complaints68 on file (2021-05-04 → 2026-09-15)
recalls4
investigations0
fars19 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Premature rear brake pad and rotor wearSERVICE BRAKES19 complaints2022-11 → 2026-05jetta-2021-premature-rear-brake-wear
  • 11736753 I am filing this complaint regarding premature and dangerous rear brake pad and rotor wear on my 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, purchased new in March 2022
  • 11569006 I purchased my vehicle brand new from VW. My vehicle only has just over 33,000 miles on it. After hearing a grinding noise in the rear brakes I took it to Les Shwab to have the brakes inspected along with a tire rotation
  • 11577968 My 2021 VW Jetta at 8 months old with 21305 miles had a grinding noise in the rear. Took it to the dealer Aug 9 2022 and was told the rear brakes and rotors needed to be replaced at my cost. I informed them I thought this was way too early to have to pay for brakes and that
EVAP system faults triggering check engine lightFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5 complaints2022-12 → 2025-05jetta-2021-evap-check-engine-light
  • 11497923 I have been having issues with the EVAP system in my 2021 VW Jetta. It has been in the shop at least 7 times since around 12K miles for the same issue. They have replaced all parts and upgraded the software several times and it is still an issue
  • 11658303 Starting in 2022 at 16,000 miles this vehicle has been to dealership 8 times for check engine light related to the EVAP. Multiple repairs have been done and still same issue
  • 11498096 I have driven my 2021 VW Jetta about 56,000 miles. Literally the whole time I have owned this car the check engine light has been on for an evaporative emissions issue
Door latch or lock actuator failure, will not open or lockLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3 complaints2024-06 → 2025-03jetta-2021-door-latch-actuator-failure
  • 11646369 Door stopped opening from handle from outside after unlocking with remote only opens from inside door handle
  • 11592640 Front passenger door latch/actuator failed and door will not lock with inside door lock, key fob, or upon auto-lock activation at 10 mph
  • 11646371 Driver door lock actuator motier lock sticking not opening from outside have to open from inside handle after unlocking with the remote
Sunroof glass spontaneously shattering while drivingVISIBILITY3 complaints2023-05 → 2025-11jetta-2021-sunroof-glass-shattering
  • 11700262 While driving home from work last night, I heard a loud noise that sounded like a gun going off right in the passenger compartment of my Jetta. A lot of wind noise followed. I thought initially that a tire might have blown out, but it was the car’s sunroof that had spontaneously
  • 11570340 I was driving from Alabama to Atlanta [XXX]. Pouring rain but no hail, no thunder nor lighting. I was not around nor under an overpass and my sunroof spontaneously shatters
  • 11523430 The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof exploded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired
Adaptive cruise, lane keep, and collision system faultsFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE7 complaints2022-03 → 2026-07jetta-2021-driver-assist-malfunction
  • 11632476 The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with adaptive cruise control on, the vehicle inadvertently applied the brakes completely bringing the vehicle to a complete stop in the middle of the roadway, after which the vehicle then shifted into the parked
  • 11605476 The contact stated while driving at various speeds in a designated lane, several messages advising that the vehicle was out of the lane were displayed. The vehicle made an abnormal beeping sound and slightly pulled to the right or to the left
  • 11469540 The car suddenly warned and stopped abruptly while we were traveling over a steel plate on the road. There were no other hazards in the road and no other cars in front of us in our lane (there were cars oncoming in the opposite traffic lane, but none had crossed over into ours)
Engine stalling and loss of power, incl. start-stop faultsENGINE8 complaints2021-06 → 2026-06jetta-2021-stalling-loss-of-power
  • 11422588 I've owned my car for 3 weeks and have driven it ~10 times in total. On 2 different occasions (most recently yesterday), it has stalled out while standing in traffic
  • 11507553 The car would not turn on while using the start/stop feature on three different occasions. Once at a stop sign when I wanted to reverse to make sure I was not pulled out too far into an intersection. I was stuck and could not get out of the way of a car coming
  • 11525306 Hill Assist system creates dangerous situations because it prevents me from moving right away while pulling out in traffic or in front of traffic lights, out of parking garages and stop signs
Sudden total loss of brake pressureSERVICE BRAKES2 complaints2022-10 → 2024-04jetta-2021-sudden-total-brake-loss
  • 11490452 Brake pedal sunk to floor. No Brakes at all. Vehicle being brought to VW dealership10/24/ 2022.No warning /lamps, or indications of brake problem
  • 11583517 Upon backing out of a parking spot a vehicle approached at a fast rate of speed. The rear cross-path sensor and emergency braking activated. This action caused the brake line to rupture and the brakes failed on the vehicle

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
682021-05-042026-09-1530SERVICE BRAKES:26; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:13; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:11; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:9; FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE:8

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
21V03800001/02/2021SEATSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72L6.
21V49200030/06/2021AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jetta and Jetta GLI vehicles. The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position.Incorrect positioning of the air bag control module can cause the vehicle's air bags to deploy improperly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, the vehicle's air bags can deploy unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CK.
20V71600018/11/2020BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.
22V51400020/07/2022BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202419legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2021 Volkswagen Jetta vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2021/volkswagen/jetta
@misc{wrenchpro_2021_volkswagen_jetta_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2021 Volkswagen Jetta},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2021/volkswagen/jetta}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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